Combatting CYBERSTALKING

By Pamela Rae Schuffert presenting investigative journalism from a Biblical Christian perspective-

Let's face it: CYBERSTALKING is a serous crime. People physically stalking and harassing other people is also a serious crime.

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CYBERSTALKING

Cyberstalking is the use of the Internet or other electronic means to stalk or harass an individual, a group of individuals, or an organization. It may include the making of false accusations or statements of fact (as in defamation), monitoring, making threats, identity theft, damage to data or equipment, the solicitation of minors for sex, or gathering information that may be used to harass. 

The definition of "harassment" must meet the criterion that a reasonable person, in possession of the same information, would regard it as sufficient to cause another reasonable person distress.^[1] 

Cyberstalking is different from spatial or offline stalking in that it occurs through the use of electronic communications technology such as the internet. However, it sometimes leads to it, or is accompanied by it.^[2] Both are criminal offenses.^[3] Cyberstalking shares important characteristics with offline stalking. Many stalkers – online or off – are motivated by a desire to control their victims.^[4]

A cyberstalker may be an online stranger or a person whom the target knows. A cyberstalker may be anonymous and may solicit involvement of other people online who do not even know the target.

Cyberstalking is a criminal offense that comes into play under state anti-stalking laws, slander laws, and harassment laws. A cyberstalking conviction can result in a restraining order, probation, or even criminal penalties against the assailant, including jail.

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Recently I have been the target of both. This includes physical stalking now, with the stalker taking pictures of me and then mailing them to me via email.

(These pictures I never even bothered to view, as a waste of my time). 

However, I am carefully saving each threatening email and planning to turn them over to legal assistance to seek legal prosecution if their threatening behavior continues.

The same person threatened to attack my character on their website as well. Unfortunately, this is the kind of unscrupulous people I have to deal with at times. 

Somehow I am not impressed or unduly worried. Why?

For me, throughout my 18 years of professional journalism, this comes as nothing new and frankly is getting old and tired. It simply comes with the turf. People who feel threatened by my brand of investigative journalism love to use threats to intimidate me to back down from publishing the truth I have uncovered. But it has never worked.

I have encountered this periodically for years, and it does not phase me. I am merely exercising my First Amendment rights guaranteed in the Constitution. Therefore, any threats against me because of what I publish is in fact illegal, and it is criminal as well. Whenever I interview various  consenting people, that information then becomes public domain.

Please pray for me for protection from this kind of tactic, and that God will enable me to continue on in the battle for THE TRUTH. Pray for the salvation of the people behind this recent attack: they are not Christians, are walking in deep spiritual darkness, and desperately need to come out of satan's deceptions to discover the salvation that only Jesus Christ can provide.

The only type of people who even bother to threaten me over information I know, are those who are in fact guilty and have something to conceal or cover-up, and fear the truth coming forth to the public.

Thank you for your ongoing prayers!

-Pamela Rae Schuffert